It’s Lent again

Every year the Church gives us a second chance. A time to sit back and reflect on life; to get our perspective aright and take stock of our relationship both with God and one another. This second chance is called Lent. This is the springtime of life. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday when we receive ashes on our forehead to show that we are ready to humble ourselves and repent of our sins, to do penance, to pray some more and to think of others more than we think of ourselves. There are 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. So what will you do differently this year?

Last year, in this blog, I gave you some practical suggestions on how to observe Lent. I talked about sin reduction rather than giving up food and things. I wrote about kicking some bad habits, like smoking and avoiding gossiping. I did not write much about assisting others, though I suggested that you should give the savings from giving up a bad habit like smoking to assist the poor. This year I want to stress the importance of thinking of others before self (avoiding ‘I before others’ syndrome and replacing it with ‘others before me’ mentality). Let us talk about giving alms instead of giving arms. In giving alms, we see ourselves as God’s stewards who have been entrusted with many blessings by the creator and the author of life. We are to see how we can share these many blessings with others. In giving alms, we see ourselves in relationship with one another as well as with God. I am sure you know that being a Christian means being in a relationship with a living person - Jesus Christ, the second person of the blessed Trinity. Do you have to be rich before you share your blessings with others? By no means! Our gifts are meaningful when the giving hurts us. That is what is called sacrificial giving. And that too is how God loves us. He sent his only Son into the world to redeem us and he did this by giving his life as expiation for our sins. So instead of giving arms, let us give alms. Giving arms only brings misunderstanding and conflicts. It robs us of our peace of mind and instills disunity and disharmony in our lives. A good and practical observance of Lent should help us to experience the peace that only Christ can give us.

This Lent, therefore, let us learn to be all things to all people. Be available to the people around you. Ask a simple question like, how may I be of help to you? Share your blessings with the people around you. Go out of your way to assist someone in need. Pay attention to simple things, like sharing a smile or laughter with people around you. Let your parting words be ‘May God bless you’. And wish everyone the best of the day. Forget not simple pleasures of life and remind your friends to do the same.

You can now see that being a saint is not that difficult after all. This indeed is how God wants us to live, and Lent will all the more be meaningful because we care!